With over 100 types of lily species, there’s a lot of pretty to discover! Lilies are one of the most popular flowers in the world and their vibrant colors, lush, elegant blooms, and enchanting fragrance is a sight and a scent to behold! Keep reading to discover why everyone loves lilies!
Lily Symbolism
A famous story of the origin of the lily dates back to Greek mythology, where the Goddess Hera created lilies when she spilled a few drops of her breast milk onto Earth’s surface. Hera is the Goddess of marriage, women, and childbirth, so the lily has also become associated with these traits. In China, lilies are a popular flower in weddings because they symbolize good luck and 100 years of love. In Christianity, lilies, especially the Madonna lily, are associated with the Virgin Mary and represent chastity and purity.
Other lily meanings depend on its color, as follows:
- White lilies = virtue, honor, and innocence.
- Pink lilies = bounty and prosperity.
- Red lilies = desire and passion
- Orange lilies = courage, wealth, and pride
- Yellow lilies = happiness, thankfulness, and health
Basic Lily Facts
Only those plants that are members of genus Lilium are known as true lilies, and they are easily identifiable as they all have six petals and six anthers (which is the brown sack that contains pollen). Lilies generally have large blooms and arrive in a wide variety of colors. Not all lilies have a scent, but those that do are graced with a strong, sweet fragrance.
Lily Classifications & Examples
Pink Pixie Lilies
Division 1: Asiatic Hybrid – Most popular lilies in the world. Come in almost every color but have little to no scent. Attractive and long-lasting. (Tango, Forever Susan, Pink Pixie)
Turk’s Cap Lily
Division 2: Martagon Hybrid – Dramatic, visually interesting, with many dainty downward-facing blossoms. Vibrantly colored. (Turk’s Cap)
Madonna Lily
Division 3: Candidum Hybrid – Famous for the Madonna lily that has a lovely fragrance and white flowers with a yellow base. (Madonna)
Tiger Lily
Division 4: American Hybrid – Includes hybrids of wild lilies in North America. (Tiger Lily)
Easter Lilies
Division 5: Longiflorum Hybrid – Easter lily, elegant pure white, petals and trumpet-shaped. Bloom during Easter. (Easter Lily)
African Queen Lily
Division 6: Trumpet and Aurelian Hybrids – Stunning, large trumpet-shaped flowers. Strong, sweet fragrance. (African Queen)
Stargazer Lily
Division 7: Oriental Hybrid – Strong, enchanting fragrance, large blooms, vibrant. (Stargazer)
Orange LA Hybrid Lily
Division 8: Interdivisional Hybrids – Hybrids of the previous seven divisions.
Wild Yellow and Red Lily
Division 9: Species – Parents of the previous 8 hybrids. Wild and delicate.
LILY SUNSHINE
An Attractive, Stunning Flower
The next time you find yourself searching for the perfect gift for someone, choose lilies! There’s such a variety of them you can’t go wrong. Here at Gordon Boswell, we have a great selection of bouquets featuring lilies and many other gorgeous blooms… peruse them online here or give us a call!
